Apparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with media content

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with media content, including a receiver, wherein the receiver receives at least one of a transmission of media content and a broadcast of media content, wherein the media content includes at least one of broadcast media content and entertainment media content, and further wherein the receiver receives information regarding the media content, a processor for processing at least one of the received media content and the received information regarding the media content, a display device for visually displaying the information regarding the media content, and/or a speaker device for audibly announcing the information regarding the media content.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method forproviding information in conjunction with media content and, inparticular, to an apparatus and method for providing information inconjunction with broadcast media content, entertainment media content,and/or media content which can be stored on, and/or played from, astorage and/or playing medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Millions of individuals listen to radio stations and/ortelevision stations each day. Individuals utilize radios in order tolisten to music, radio programs, radio news programs, and/or radio talkshows, etc. Individuals utilize television in order to watch televisionprograms, television shows, television news programs, television talkshows, movies, and/or music videos, etc.

[0003] As many individuals can attest, oftentimes a song may be playingwhich the listener desires to know more about. For example, a listenercan be listening to a song, find it enjoyable, and desire to know thename of the song, the performer who is performing the song, or any otherinformation (i.e. the name of the album on which the song may befeatured or found, etc.) so that he or she may purchase a copy of same.Similarly, an individual listening to a radio show or radio talk showmay want to know more information regarding the show's subject matter orthe show's performers or participants so that he or she may obtain acopy of same or seek to listen to the respective show at a later time.While information regarding any of the respective songs, radio shows,and/or radio programs, can be introduced prior to, or announcedsubsequent to, the broadcast of the respective songs, radio shows,and/or radio programs, the information is typically not provided duringthe course of the broadcast and, as a result, an individual who missesthe respective introduction or announcement may never receive thedesired information. Particularly during broadcast of a piece ofclassical music, which, at times, may be quite long, a listener maystruggle to recall the name of a familiar piece and the composer thereofor be curious to learn the composer, performer(s) and the name ofcurrently playing piece of music that caught the listener's attention.

[0004] In a similar manner, there are many instances in which anindividual may be watching a television show or program and, findingsame to be enjoyable, desire to obtain more information about same. Forexample, an individual watching a television talk show may want to learnthe name of the show, the subject matter or description of the show, theperformers or participants involved in the show, or any otherinformation, which can enable the individual to obtain a copy of theshow or program, or learn more about same in order to watch the programat a later time. An individual may also wish to know, without having toresort to a printed TV Guide, which may not be at hand, or having toswitch channels to an online TV Guide, when the TV program, show ormovie started and when it will finish or how much of it has been missed,in order to be able to decide whether or not to watch this TV program,show or movie. An individual may also wish to know a brief synopsis ofthe transpired events in order to be able to understand the story lineand enjoy the rest of the movie.

[0005] It is again noted that, while information regarding any of therespective television programs, movies or shows can be introduced priorto, or announced subsequent to, the broadcast of the respective program,movie or show, the information is typically not provided during thecourse of the broadcast and, as a result, an individual who misses therespective introduction or announcement may never receive the desiredinformation.

[0006] In today's information age, individuals are use to, and have cometo expect, if not demand, to have information available to theminstantaneously. Yet, in spite of this, no system or apparatus iscurrently available which can provide radio broadcasts or televisionbroadcasts along with information regarding the content of therespective broadcast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method forproviding information in conjunction with media content, which overcomesthe shortfalls of the prior art. The present invention pertains to anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for providinginformation in conjunction with broadcast media content, entertainmentmedia content, and/or media content which can be stored on, and/orplayed from, a storage and/or playing medium.

[0008] The present invention provides an apparatus and method forproviding information regarding the content of a radio broadcast,television broadcast, webcast, media broadcast of any kind or type,and/or information regarding media content which can be stored on aconventional storage medium. The present invention can also be utilizedin order to provide information regarding, relating to, and/ordescriptive of, radio programs, music, songs, television programs,television shows, movies, webcast, and/or audio or video information, ofany kind.

[0009] The present invention can be utilized in order to provideinformation relating to, or regarding, live or pre-recorded broadcastsor transmissions of radio programs, songs, television programs,television shows, movies, webcast, and/or audio or video information ofany kind. The present invention can also be utilized in order to provideinformation relating to, or regarding, radio programs, music, songs,television programs, television shows, movies, webcast, and/or audio orvideo information, which can be stored on any type or kind of storagemedium.

[0010] The information which can be provided by the present inventioncan include any one or more of the name or title of the media content,the respective author(s), performer(s), musician(s), singer(s),actor(s), director(s), producer(s), writer(s), composer(s), involved in,and/or featured in, the respective media content, a description of themedia content, the year produced, and/or any cost or price informationregarding same. The information can also include the beginning and endtime as well as the duration of the broadcast, such duration expressedin absolute units of time and/or as a percentage of the total length ofthe broadcast. The information can also include a brief synopsis of thetranspired events and/or the story line. The information can alsoinclude a unique identification number which can be assigned to and/orwhich can be associated with each particular selection of media content.

[0011] The information, which can be provided by the present invention,can also include information regarding goods or services whichinformation can be provided to a user along with, and/or in addition to,the other herein-described information regarding the media content. Theinformation regarding goods or services can include marketinginformation, sales information, promotional information, advertisementinformation, and/or any other information for facilitating a sale of arespective good or service and/or for promoting a respective good orservice.

[0012] The present invention can provide information regarding mediacontent, such as, for example, a piece of music, a song, a televisionshow, a movie, a radio program, etc., by displaying the information to arespective listener or viewer.

[0013] The apparatus of the present invention can include a broadcastingsystem, which can broadcast any of the various types or kinds of mediacontent described herein. Any number of broadcasting systems can beutilized in conjunction with the apparatus of the present invention.

[0014] The apparatus of the present invention can also include amedia-playing device which can receive broadcasts from any of thebroadcasting systems utilized in conjunction with the present invention.The media-playing device can be any one of more of a radio, atelevision, a VCR, a tape player, a CD player, a DVD player a computer,a cellular telephone, an Internet appliance, a personal digitalassistant, a wireless media-playing device or any other device, forreceiving and/or for playing broadcasts, webcasts, or transmissions ofmedia content. Any number of media-playing devices can be utilized inconjunction with the apparatus of the present invention.

[0015] The apparatus of the present invention can operate and/or can beutilized on, over, and/or in conjunction with, any suitablecommunication network or system which can include any one or more of aradio frequency (RF) communication network or system, a satellitenetwork or system, a telecommunications network or system, a televisioncommunication network or system, a cable television communicationnetwork or system, a satellite television network or system, aclosed-circuit communication network or system, the Internet, anintranet, an extranet, a wide-area network (WAN), a local area network(LAN), the World Wide We b, a wireless communication network, a cellulartelecommunication network, a wireless Internet communication network, awireless World Wide Web communication network and/or any othercommunications network capable of transmitting media content.

[0016] The apparatus of the present invention can also operate and/orcan be utilized on, over, and/or in conjunction with, any other suitablecommunication network or system.

[0017] The broadcasting system can include broadcasting equipment neededor desired for facilitating the functionality of the respective mediabroadcasting system. The broadcasting system can also include a centralprocessing computer and or central processing unit (CPU) for controllingthe operation of the broadcasting system, and a memory device forstoring any of the information described herein as being provided withthe respective media content as well as any other information forfacilitating the operation of the apparatus as described herein. Thememory device can also be utilized in order to store media content.

[0018] The media-playing device can include media-playing equipment,which can be utilized to receive and/or to play any of the media contentdescribed herein. The media-playing device can also include a centralprocessing computer and or central processing unit (CPU) for controllingthe operation of the media-playing device. The media-playing device canalso include an input device, which can include a remote control device,for inputting information and/or commands into the media-playing device.The media-playing device can also include a display device fordisplaying any of the information described-herein as being provided bythe present invention.

[0019] A remote control device associated with a media-playing devicecan also include a display device for displaying requested any of theinformation described-herein as being provided by the present invention.

[0020] The present invention can be utilized in order to provideinformation relating to media content, which media content can includeany one or more of audio information, video information, and/or audioand video information. The information can be provided along with themedia content, which is being broadcast to a media-playing device. Theinformation can also be provided along with media content which is beingplayed from a storage medium located at, or in, the respectivemedia-playing device.

[0021] The apparatus of the present invention can be utilized in orderto provide broadcasts of music, songs, television shows, televisionprograms, movies, and/or any other audio information, video information,and/or audio and video information. Any of the information, which can beprovided by the present invention, can be encoded into the respectivemedia content. The information can also be provided as a header file tothe media content. The information can also be encoded into, multiplexedwith, mixed with, and/or transmitted in conjunction with, the mediacontent.

[0022] The information can also be encoded with, multiplexed with, mixedwith, and/or stored in conjunction with, media content which is storedon a storage medium such as a compact disc, a digital video disc ordigital versatileversatile disc (DVD), a tape, digital TV recorder, anMP3 storage device, programmable memory, a hard disk, and/or any otherstorage medium.

[0023] The broadcasting system can broadcast or transmit media contentalong with the herein-described information regarding the media content.The media-playing device can receive and process the media content aswell as the information, which pertains to the media content.

[0024] The media-playing device can play the media content. Themedia-playing device can also process and display the informationpertaining to the media content for viewing by a respective listener orviewer. The media-playing device can also store the informationpertaining to the media content in an appropriate buffer or storagelocation.

[0025] The present invention can be utilized in order to provide alistener with any one or more of the name of a song, the performer(s) ofthe song, the composer(s) of the song, the producer(s) of the song, thealbum on which the song appears, the price of a song single, the priceof an album(s) in which the song can be found, an identification numberpertaining to the song, and/or any other pertinent and/or relevantinformation regarding the song, in conjunction with a broadcast or atransmission of the media content.

[0026] The present invention can also be utilized in order to provide aviewer with any one or more of the name of a show, the performer(s) inthe show, the actor(s) appearing in the show, the producer(s) ordirector(s) of the show, the price of a video copy of the show, anidentification number pertaining to the show, beginning and end time aswell as the duration of the broadcast, a brief synopsis of thetranspired events and/or of the story line, and/or any other pertinentand/or relevant information regarding the show, in conjunction with abroadcast or a transmission of the media content.

[0027] The present invention can also be utilized in order to displayinformation regarding media content which is being played on amedia-playing device from a storage medium such as a compact disc (CD),a digital video disc or digital versatileversatile disc (DVD), a videocassette, a laser disc, a tape, digital TV recorder, MP3 device, harddisk, programmable memory, memory card, media card, or other recordingand/or storage medium.

[0028] The present invention can also be utilized in order to provide alistener with any one or more of the name of a song, the performer(s) ofthe song, the composer(s) of the song, the producer(s) of the song, thealbum on which the song appears, the price of a song single, the priceof an album(s) in which the song can be found, an identification numberpertaining to the song, and/or any other pertinent and/or relevantinformation regarding the song, in conjunction with media content whichis played on, or from, a media-playing device.

[0029] The present invention can also be utilized in order to provide aviewer with any one or more of the name of a show, the performer(s) inthe show, the actor(s) appearing in the show, the producer(s) ordirector(s) of the show, the price of a video copy of the show,beginning and end time as well as the duration of the broadcast, a briefsynopsis of the transpired events and/or of the story line, anidentification number pertaining to the show, and/or any other pertinentand/or relevant information regarding the show, in conjunction withmedia content which is played on, or from, a media-playing device.

[0030] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providean apparatus and method for providing information in conjunction withmedia content.

[0031] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction withbroadcast media content.

[0032] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent, which is stored on a storage medium.

[0033] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with aradio broadcast, a television broadcast, webcast and/or a mediabroadcast, of any kind or type.

[0034] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with radioprograms, songs, television programs, television shows, movies, and/oraudio or video information, of any kind.

[0035] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with livebroadcasts of media content and/or broadcasts of pre-recorded mediacontent.

[0036] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information which can include any oneor more of a name or title of the media content, a respectiveperformer(s), singer(s), actor(s), director(s), producer(s), writer(s),composer(s), conductor(s), involved in, and/or featured in, therespective media content, a description of the media content, the yearproduced, and/or any cost or price information regarding same.

[0037] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information which can include any oneor more of a show's or a movie's beginning and end time as well as theduration of the broadcast, a brief synopsis of the transpired eventsand/or of the story line.

[0038] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can be utilized on, or over, any one or more of a radiofrequency (RF) communication network or system, a televisioncommunication network or system, a cable television communicationnetwork or system, a satellite communication network or system, atelecommunications network or system, and/or a closed-circuitcommunication network or system.

[0039] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can be utilized on, or over, any one or more of theInternet, an intranet, an extranet, the World Wide Web, a wide areanetwork (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a cellular communicationnetwork or system, a wireless communication network, a wireless Internetcommunication network, and/or a wireless World Wide Web communicationnetwork.

[0040] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which is being broadcast to a media-playing device.

[0041] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which is being played from a storage medium located at, or in,the respective media-playing device.

[0042] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent wherein the information is any one or more of, encoded into,multiplexed with, mixed with, and/or transmitted in conjunction with,the media content.

[0043] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent wherein the information is provided as a header file to themedia content.

[0044] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent wherein the information is any one or more of, encoded into,multiplexed with, mixed with, and/or transmitted in conjunction with,the stored media content.

[0045] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent wherein the information is provided as a header file to thestored media content.

[0046] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can broadcast or transmit the information along with themedia content.

[0047] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent, which can be received and processed at a media-playing device.

[0048] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent, which can display the information to a respective listener orviewer.

[0049] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent, which can display the information to a respective listener orviewer at, or in conjunction with, a media-playing device.

[0050] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent, which can display the information to a respective listener orviewer at, or in conjunction with a remote control and/or input deviceassociated with a media-playing device.

[0051] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can store the information at, or in conjunction with, amedia-playing device.

[0052] It is still another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can be utilized in order to provide a listener with anyone or more of the name of a song, the performer(s) of the song, thecomposer(s) of the song, the producer(s) of the song, the album on whichthe song appears, the price of a song single, the price of an album(s)in which the song can be found, an identification number pertaining tothe song, and/or any other pertinent and/or relevant informationregarding the song.

[0053] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can be utilized in order to provide a viewer with any oneor more of the name of a show and/or movie, the performer(s) in the showand/or movie, the actor(s) appearing in the show and/or movie, theproducer(s) or director(s) of the show and/or movie, the beginning timeof the show and/or movie, the end time of the show and/or movie, and/orduration of the show and/or movie, a brief synopsis of the transpiredevents of the show and/or movie and/or of the story line, the price of avideo copy of the show, an identification number pertaining to the show,and/or any other pertinent and/or relevant information regarding theshow.

[0054] It is another object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for providing information in conjunction with mediacontent which can also provide information regarding goods and servicesalong with, and/or in addition to, the information regarding the mediacontent.

[0055] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the Description ofthe Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the Drawings, whichfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] In the Drawings:

[0057]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention, in block diagram form;

[0058]FIG. 2 illustrates the broadcasting system of FIG. 1, in blockdiagram form;

[0059]FIG. 3 illustrates the media-playing device of FIG. 1, in blockdiagram form;

[0060]FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment method for utilizing theapparatus of the present invention, in flow diagram form;

[0061]FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus of the present invention, in flow diagram form;

[0062]FIG. 6 illustrates still another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus of the present invention, in flow diagram form;and

[0063]FIG. 7 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus of the present invention, in flow diagram form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method forproviding information in conjunction with media content and, inparticular, to an apparatus and method for providing information inconjunction with broadcast media content, entertainment media content,and/or media content which can be stored on, and played from, a storageand/or media medium.

[0065] The present invention provides an apparatus and method forproviding information regarding the content of a radio broadcast, atelevision broadcast, a webcast, and/or a media broadcast of any kind ortype, and/or information regarding media content which can be stored ona conventional storage medium. The information provided can include anyinformation, descriptive matter, and/or other subject matter, regardingthe media content.

[0066] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, theapparatus and method can be utilized in order to provide informationregarding, relating to, and/or descriptive of radio programs, songs,music, television programs, television shows, movies, radio and/ortelevision advertisement of goods or services, and/or audio or videoinformation of any kind. The respective radio programs, songs, music,television programs, television shows, movies, radio and/or televisionadvertisement of goods or services, and/or audio or video information ofany kind, can be broadcast from a broadcasting system or broadcastingstation.

[0067] The respective radio programs, songs, music, television programs,television shows, movies, radio and/or television advertisement of goodsor services, and/or audio or video information of any kind, can bebroadcast as a live broadcast of media content or as a broadcast ofpre-recorded or taped materials or media content.

[0068] In another preferred embodiment, the information can be providedalong with, and/or in conjunction with, the respective stored radioprograms, songs, music, television programs, television shows, movies,radio and/or television advertisement of goods or services, and/or audioor video information, on a storage medium which can include, but whichis not limited to, a video cassette, VHS tape, Betacam tape, any kind ofvideo tape, a film, a digital video disc or digital versatile disc(DVD), a compact disc (CD), a laser disc, a tape, a record, a computerhard disk, digital TV recorder, an MP3 player, PCMCIA memory card, flashmedia card, a digital memory device, any other electronic and/ormagnetic storage media, and/or any other type of storage media.

[0069] The respective radio programs, songs, music, television programs,television shows, movies, radio and/or television advertisement of goodsor services, and/or audio or video information, which can be stored onthe respective storage medium can be broadcast from a respective radiobroadcaster, television broadcaster, and/or other media broadcaster,and/or can be utilized on a user's media-playing device. Themedia-playing device can be, or can include, any one or more or a radio,a television, a personal computer, a portable computer, a compact disc(CD) player, a video disc (DVD) player, a laser disc player, a videocassette recorder (VCR), a video cassette player, a tape player, a taperecorder, a record player, an MP3 player, a personal digital assistant(PDA), an Internet appliance, cellular telephone, a wireless device, anyanalog media-playing device, any digital media-playing device, and/orany other suitable media-playing device.

[0070] The information which can be provided along with, and/or inconjunction with, the respective radio programs, songs, music,television programs, television shows, movies, radio and/or televisionadvertisement of goods or services, and/or audio or video information,(hereinafter referred to as “media content”) can include the name ortitle of the media content, the respective performer(s), singer(s),musicians, actor(s), director(s), producer(s), writer(s), composer(s),conductors, involved in, and/or featured in, the respective mediacontent (i.e. a song performer, a music composer, a movie actor, aproducer, etc.), a description of the media content (i.e. song lyricsdescription, description of advertised and/or featured goods and/orservices, movie theme, brief synopsis of the transpired events and/ormovie story line, etc.), the year produced, the year performed, the yearrecorded, and any cost or price information regarding same (i.e. songalbum price, movie video price, advertised and/or featured goods price,etc.). The information can also include a beginning time, an end time, alapsed time expressed in absolute units and/or as a percentage of thetotal duration, duration of the media broadcast and/or playback. Theinformation can also include a unique identification number which can beassigned to, and/or which can be associated with, each particularselection of media content.

[0071] The unique identification number can be utilized in order toidentify a particular selection of media content, song, program, movie,etc., for any appropriate reason such as for broadcast planning, mediacontent sales, etc. The information can also include any other dataand/or information, which can be related to the media content.

[0072] The information, which can be provided by the present invention,can also include information regarding goods or services whichinformation can be provided to a user along with, and/or in addition to,the other herein-described information regarding the media content. Theinformation regarding goods or services can include marketinginformation, sales information, promotional information, advertisementinformation, and/or any other information for facilitating a sale of arespective good or service and/or for promoting a respective good orservice.

[0073] As defined herein, the term “media-playing device”, or the pluralof same, refers to televisions, analog television sets, digitaltelevision sets, HDTV receivers, radios, radio receivers, analog radios,digital radios, stereos, tape players, record players, movie projectors,video projectors, compact disc (CD) players, digital video disc (DVD)players or digital versatile disc players, laser disc players, tapeplayers, computers, MP3 players, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA),cellular phones, wireless devices, Internet appliances, multimediadevices, and/or any other suitable devices or systems which can beutilized in order to receive and present broadcasts of the media contentdescribed herein (i.e. radio broadcasts, television program broadcasts,webcast, etc.). The media-playing device can also be any other suitabledevice, which can play or present media content from a stored medium(i.e. video cassette recorders/players, etc.).

[0074] As defined herein, the terms “broadcaster”, “media provider”, orthe plurals of same, refer to any broadcasters, radio broadcasters,television broadcasters, Internet webcasters, media broadcasters of anytype, media content providers, and/or any providers or broadcasters ofany of the media content described herein.

[0075] The apparatus and method of the present invention can provideinformation regarding media content, such as for example, a song, amusic performance, a television show, a movie, a radio program, anadvertisement of goods and/or services, etc., by displaying theinformation to an individual listener, viewer, or receiver of therespective media content. For example, information regarding a song,which is being broadcast by a radio station, can be provided on asuitable display device located on an individual's radio, stereo,computer screen, information display, and/or remote control device. Theinformation can include any one or more of the name of the song, thealbum, if any, on which the song is featured, the artist or performerperforming the song, the producer of the song, the composer of the song,the theme of the song or the song's lyrics, the year produced, and/orthe price of a single recording and/or the price(s) of an album(s)featuring the song.

[0076] In the case of a television show, program, or movie, theinformation can include any one or more of the name of the show,program, or movie, the actor(s) featured in the show, program, or movie,the producer(s) or director(s) of the show, program, or movie, thewriter(s) or composer(s) of the show, program, or movie, the theme ofthe show, program, or movie, the year produced, a brief synopsis of thestory line and/or of the transpired events (from the start of the movieuntil the current moment and/or until the time when the viewer requestsuch information), the start time, the end time, the duration expressedin the absolute time units or as a percentage of the total duration ofthe movie, program, or show, and/or the price of a recording or tape ofthe show, program, or movie.

[0077] In the case of any other media content, the information caninclude any of the above-described information and/or any otherinformation, which may be relevant and/or pertinent to the mediacontent.

[0078]FIG. 1 illustrates the apparatus of the present invention, whichis designated generally by the reference numeral 100. With reference toFIG. 1, the apparatus 100 includes a broadcasting system 10 which canbroadcast any of the media content described herein. Any number ofbroadcasting systems 10 can be utilized in conjunction with theapparatus 100 of the present invention. Each broadcasting system 10 canbe associated with one or more of a radio broadcaster, a televisionbroadcaster, a webcaster, a media broadcaster, a multimedia broadcaster,a radio station, a television station, an Internet server, or othermedia provider.

[0079] With reference once again to FIG. 1, the apparatus 100 alsoincludes a media-playing device 20 which can receive broadcasts from anyof the broadcasting systems 10 described herein. The broadcasts caninclude any of the herein-described media content. The media-playingdevice 20 can be associated with one or more individuals or users of theapparatus 100.

[0080] In the preferred embodiment, the media-playing-device 20 can beany one of more of a radio, a television, a computer, a networkterminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internet appliance, acellular telephone, a watch, or media receiver, for receivingbroadcasts. In another preferred embodiment, the media-playing device 20can be any one or more of a compact disc player (CD), a video discplayer (DVD), a laser disc player, a video cassette recorder (VCR), avideo cassette player, a personal video recorder, a tape player, an MP3player, and/or any other suitable media-playing device for playing mediacontent from a storage medium. Any number of media-playing devices 20can be utilized in conjunction with the apparatus 100.

[0081] The apparatus 100 can operate and/or can be utilized on, over,and/or in conjunction with, any suitable communication network or systemwhich can include any one or more of a radio frequency (RF)communication network or system, a cable radio communication network orsystem, a digital radio communication network or system, a satelliteradio communication network or system, a television communicationnetwork or system, a cable television communication network or system, adigital television communication network or system, a high-definitiontelevision (HDTV) communication network or system, a satellitetelevision communication network or system, a telecommunications networkor system, a cellular telecommunications network or system, a radiotelecommunications network or system, a wireless telecommunicationsnetwork or system, an optical telecommunications network or system, aclosed-circuit communication network or system, the Internet, anintranet, an extranet, the World Wide Web, a local area network (LAN) awide area network (WAN), a wireless communication network, a wirelessInternet communication network, and/or a wireless World Wide Webcommunication network. The apparatus 100 can also operate and/or can beutilized on, over, and/or in conjunction with, any other suitablecommunication network or system.

[0082]FIG. 2 illustrates the broadcasting system 10 of FIG. 1, in blockdiagram form. With reference to FIG. 2, the broadcasting system 10includes broadcasting equipment 10A, which can include any and all ofthe components and/or system components commonly found in traditionalbroadcasting systems. In the case of a radio broadcasting system, thebroadcasting equipment 10A can include any and/or all of the componentscommonly found in, and/or associated with, a conventional radiobroadcasting system. Similarly, in the case of a television broadcastingsystem, the broadcasting equipment 10A can include any and/or all of thecomponents commonly found in, and/or associated with, a conventionaltelevision broadcasting system. In the case of media broadcasting systemof any kind or type, the broadcasting equipment 10A can include anyand/or all of the components needed and/or desired for facilitating thefunctionality of the respective media broadcasting system.

[0083] With reference to FIG. 2, the broadcasting system 10 can alsoinclude a central processing computer and/or central processing unit(CPU) 10B and associated memory device 10C. The central processingcomputer and/or central processing unit (CPU) 10B can include aprocessor(s), a random access memory (RAM) device(s), read only memory(ROM) device(s), a magnetic memory storage (hard disk) device(s), aninput device(s), a display device(s), an output device(s), and/or anyother components or devices, including peripheral devices, forperforming any of the functionality described herein. The centralprocessing computer and/or central processing unit (CPU) 10B can belinked to, or connected to, the broadcasting equipment 10A. The memorydevice 10C can also be linked to, and/or connected to, the centralprocessing computer and/or central processing unit (CPU) 10B.

[0084] The memory device 10C can contain any of the informationdescribed herein as being provided with the respective media content.For example, the memory device 10C can contain, for any given song, anyone or more of the name of the song, the album, if any, on which thesong is featured, the artist or performer performing the song, theproducer of the song, the composer of the song, the theme of the song orthe song's lyrics, the year produced, and/or the price of a singlerecording and/or the price(s) of an album(s) featuring the song.

[0085] In the case of a television show, program, or movie, the memorydevice 10C can contain any one or more of the name of the show, program,or movie, the actor(s) featured in the show, program, or movie, theproducer(s) or director(s) of the show, program, or movie, the writer(s)or composer(s) of the show, program, or movie, the theme of the show,program, or movie, the synopsis of the story line and/or the transpiredevents, the year produced, start time, end time, lapsed time, and/or theprice of a recording or copy of the show, program, or movie.

[0086] The memory device 10C can also contain media content, which isavailable for broadcast to any of the herein-described media-playingdevices 20.

[0087] The media content can be provided with any of theherein-described information which can be provided in a header field,which can be encoded into the main body of the media content and/orwhich can be encoded in a carrier signal. In the case of a livebroadcast from a stored medium, the information can be broadcast alongwith the media content from the media storage device. The centralprocessing computer and/or central processing unit (CPU) can encode thepertinent information into the media content of a live broadcast and/orinto the live broadcast of media content, which is being broadcast froma stored medium.

[0088]FIG. 3 illustrates the media-playing device 20 of FIG. 1, in blockdiagram form. The media-playing device 20 can include media-playingdevice equipment 20A, which can include any and/or all of the componentsand systems of the respective media-playing device 20. The media-playingdevice equipment 20A can also include a reading device for readinginformation from a storage medium, such as, but not limited to, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc or digital versatile disc (DVD),a laser disc, a tape, a video cassette tape, a personal video recorder,an MP3 storage device, and/or any other storage medium or devicedescribed herein.

[0089] The media-playing device 20 can also include a central processingcomputer 20B. The central processing computer 20B can include aprocessor(s), a random access memory (RAM) device(s), read only memory(ROM) device(s), a magnetic memory storage (hard disk) device(s), aninput device(s), a display device(s), an output device(s), and/or anyother components or devices, including peripheral devices, forperforming any of the functionality described herein. The centralprocessing computer 20B and/or central processing unit (CPU) can beutilized in order to process the information pertaining to the mediacontent and/or to control the display of same. The central processingcomputer and/or central processing unit (CPU) 20B is linked with and/orconnected to the media-playing equipment 20A.

[0090] With reference to FIG. 3, the media-playing device 20 can alsoinclude an input device 20C, which can include a remote control device,for inputting information and/or commands into the media-playing device20. The remote control device can be utilized in order to provide remotecontrol over the operation of the media-playing device 20 and/or thecentral processing computer and/or central processing unit (CPU) 20B.The media-playing device 20 can also include a display device 20D fordisplaying any of the information described-herein as being provided bythe apparatus 100.

[0091] The display device 20D can be a separate display device dedicatedto the display of the information provided by the apparatus 100 of thepresent invention. The display device 20D can also be integrated withthe respective display screen or control panel of the respectivemedia-playing device 20. The display device 20D can also be located onthe remote control device 20B in addition to, and/or instead of, beinglocated at, or on, the media-playing device 20. The display device 20Dcan also be located on the dashboard control display of a car radioand/or other vehicle media playing device 20.

[0092] As noted above, the apparatus 100 can be utilized in order toprovide information relating to media content, such as, for example,audio information, video information, and/or audio and videoinformation. In a preferred embodiment, the information can be providedalong with media content, which is being broadcast to a media-playingdevice.

[0093]FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment method for utilizing theapparatus 100, in flow diagram form. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, theapparatus 100 can be utilized in order to provide broadcasts of audioinformation, such as a radio broadcast or other transmitted broadcast ofmusic, songs, advertisement of goods and/or services and/or other audioinformation, along with any of the herein-described information.

[0094] For example, the apparatus 100 can provide a radio broadcast of asong. In conjunction with the song, the apparatus 100 can provide anyand/or all of the herein-described information pertaining to, and/orrelating to, the song, such as, for example, information regarding thename of the song, the performer(s) of the song, the composer(s) of thesong, the producer(s) of the song, the album on which the song appears,the price of a song single, the price of an album(s) in which the songcan be found, an identification number pertaining to the song, and/orany other pertinent and/or relevant information regarding the song.

[0095] In the case of other audio information, such as, for example,news broadcasts, talk radio shows, and/or other audio content, which canbe broadcast over the radio or other broadcast medium, the informationcan include any information pertinent to, and/or relevant to, thebroadcast or show. This information can include news story name, title,description, place or time of occurrence, talk show subject matter,participants, etc.

[0096] In the case of other audio information, such as, for example,advertisement of goods and/or services, which can be broadcast over theradio or other broadcast medium, the information can include anyinformation pertinent to, and/or relevant to, the advertisement of goodsand/or services. This information can include brand name, size, color,material, suggested retail price, discount, purchase price, shipping andhandling cost, delivery time, catalog number, etc.

[0097] Any of the herein described information can be transmitted alongwith the audio information, song, music, advertisement, or broadcast.The herein-described information can be encoded into a digital recordingor digital file of the respective audio information, song, music, orbroadcast media content.

[0098] The information can be encoded and stored at the beginning of therespective audio file, such as in a header portion of the audioinformation, and/or the information can be multiplexed with, and/ormixed with, the entire, or at least a portion of the, audio information.The information can be stored along with the audio information on acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc or digital versatile disc (DVD),a personal video recorder, a tape, an MP3 device, a computer, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), an Internet appliance, a cellular phone, awatch, a digital memory device, a magnetic memory device, and/or anyother storage medium.

[0099] In another preferred embodiment, the information can be broadcastalong with the audio information by being co-broadcast in a portion ofthe signal bandwidth, by a suitable transmitter or transmission system.The information can also be encoded into, and/or with, the broadcastsignal, and/or with a pulse(s) or train of pulses containing datarepresenting the herein-described information.

[0100] In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 4, the operation of theapparatus 100 is described in conjunction with providing theherein-described information in conjunction with a radio broadcast of asong or selection of music. While, in the preferred embodiment, theapparatus 100 is described in conjunction with a radio broadcast of asong, the apparatus 100 of FIG. 4 can also be utilized in conjunctionwith Internet transmissions, broadcasts, and/or webcasts, MP3transmissions or broadcasts, digital transmissions or broadcasts, analogtransmissions or broadcasts, radio frequency transmission or broadcasts,satellite transmissions or broadcasts, cable transmissions orbroadcasts, and/or any other suitable transmissions or broadcasts.

[0101] With reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the apparatus 100commences at step 400. At step 401, the broadcasting system 10broadcasts or transmits the song or selection of music, along with theherein-described information regarding the song or selection of music.At step 401, the broadcasting system 10 can broadcast or transmit thesong or selection of music to any number of media-playing devices 20. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 4, the media-playing device 20 can be any one ormore of a radio, a radio receiver, a radio tuner, a mobile radio (i.e.car radio, etc.), and/or any other device for receiving the radiobroadcast or transmission.

[0102] At step 402, the media-playing device 20 associated with theindividual can receive the broadcast. At step 403, the media-playingdevice 20 can process the information received in the broadcast. At step403, the central processing computer and/or central processing unit(CPU) 20B can process the information pertaining to, and/or regarding,the media content, which can be transmitted as a header file to the songor selection of music, which can be transmitted throughout the broadcastof the song or music selection, and/or which can be transmitted during aportion of the song or music selection.

[0103] At step 404, the media-playing device 20 can begin playing thesong or selection of music. At step 404, the information pertaining to,and/or relating to, the song or selection of music can be stored in amemory location or buffer and can be displayed on the display device20D. In the case of information provided in a header file, the centralprocessing computer 20B can latch or store the information in a bufferor memory device and, thereafter, display the information on the displaydevice 20D. In the case of information which is multiplexed with, mixedwith, or transmitted along with, the broadcast and/or with the mediacontent, the central processing computer 20B can continuously processthe information, such as at pre-determined time intervals, and latch orstore the information in a buffer or memory device for display.

[0104] At step 404, the information is displayed on any one or more ofthe display device 20D, the radio display console, a dashboard displayconsole of a car radio, and/or a display device located on the radioremote control device 20C. The displayed information can include any oneor more of the name of the song, the performer(s) of the song, thecomposer(s) of the song, the producer(s) of the song, the album on whichthe song appears, the price of a song single, the price of an album(s)in which the song can be found, an identification number pertaining tothe song, and/or any other pertinent and/or relevant informationregarding the song.

[0105] The information can be displayed on the display device 20D whichcan be a dedicated display device, for displaying the above-describedinformation, and/or which can be integrated into the radio control paneldisplay and/or the radio remote control display. The information canalso be audibly announced through the radio speaker(s) and/or earphones.

[0106] In this manner, the apparatus 100 can provide the individual whois listening to the song with any of the herein-described informationrelating to the song.

[0107] The displayed information can also include information regardinggoods or services. The information regarding goods or services caninclude marketing information, sales information, promotionalinformation, advertisement information, product information, serviceinformation, and/or any other information for facilitating a sale of arespective good or service and/or for promoting a respective good orservice.

[0108] At step 404, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the song or selection of music, as well as any information regardinggoods or services, can be displayed on the display device 20D for theduration of the song or selection of music or can be displayed for aportion of the song or selection of music. At step 405, the informationwill cease to be visually displayed and/or audibly announced upon theconclusion of the song or selection of music and/or at any other timeduring the playing of the song of selection of music. Thereafter, theoperation of the apparatus 100 will cease at step 406, upon theconclusion of the song. The above-described process can then be repeatedfor a next song received from the broadcasting system 10.

[0109]FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus 100, in flow diagram form. In the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the apparatus 100 can be utilized in order to provide broadcastsof video information and/or audio and video information, such as from atelevision broadcast or other transmitted broadcast of television shows,television programs, movies, performances, music videos, etc., alongwith any of the herein-described information. For example, the apparatus100 can provide a television broadcast of a television show, televisionprogram, performance, or movie (hereinafter referred to as “show”).

[0110] In conjunction with the show, the apparatus 100 can provide anyand/or all of the herein-described information pertaining to, and/orrelating to, the show, such as, for example, information regarding thename of the show, the performer(s) in the show, the actor(s) appearingin the show, the producer(s) or director(s) of the show, the theme,subject, topic, and/or idea of the show, the rating of the show, thesynopsis of the show story line and/or lapsed events, show start time,show end time, lapsed time of the show in absolute unit of time and/oras a percentage of the total show duration, the price of a video copy ofthe show, an identification number pertaining to the show, and/or anyother pertinent and/or relevant information regarding the song.

[0111] In the case of other video information, such a, for example, atelevision program, television show, movie, music video, performance,news broadcast, talk radio show, and/or other video content, which canbe broadcast over the television or other broadcast medium, theinformation can include any information pertinent to, and/or relevantto, the broadcast or show. This information can include show name,title, description, story line, actors or performers in the show,producers or directors of the show, place or time of occurrence, talkshow subject matter, participants, etc.

[0112] Any of the herein described information can be transmitted alongwith the video information or media content of the show.

[0113] The information can be encoded and stored at the beginning of therespective video file, such as in a header portion of the videoinformation, and/or the information can be multiplexed with, and/ormixed with, the entire, or at least a portion of the, video information.The information can be stored along with the video information on acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc or digital versatile disc (DVD),a laser disc, a video cassette tape, a personal video recorder, aremovable hard disk, a flash media card, a streaming video file storagemedium, and/or any other storage medium.

[0114] In another preferred embodiment, the information can be broadcastalong with the video information by being co-broadcast, in a portion ofthe signal bandwidth, by a suitable transmitter or transmission system.The information can also be encoded into, and/or with, the broadcastsignal, and/or can be transmitted as a series of pulses or pulse trainscontaining data representing the herein-described information.

[0115] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the operation of the apparatus 100is described in conjunction with providing the herein-describedinformation in conjunction with a television broadcast of a show. While,in the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 is described inconjunction with a television broadcast of a show, the apparatus 100 ofFIG. 5 can also be utilized in conjunction with Internet transmissions,webcasts or broadcasts, streaming video transmissions or broadcasts,digital transmissions or broadcasts, analog transmissions or broadcasts,radio frequency transmission or broadcasts, satellite transmission orbroadcasts, cable transmission of broadcasts, wireless transmission orbroadcasts, and/or via any other suitable transmissions or broadcasts.

[0116] With reference to FIG. 5, the operation of the apparatus 100commences at step 500. At step 501, the broadcasting system 10broadcasts or transmits the show, along with the herein-describedinformation regarding the show. At step 501, the broadcasting system 10can broadcast or transmit the show to any number of media-playingdevices 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the media-playing device 20 canbe any one or more of a television, a television receiver, a mobiletelevision (i.e. car television, etc.), a monitor, a display terminal, awearable computer display, a personal digital assistant (PDA), acellular telephone, a watch, a wireless device, and/or any other devicefor receiving the broadcast or transmission. At step 502, themedia-playing device 20 associated with the individual can receive thebroadcast. At step 503, the media-playing device 20 can process theinformation received in the broadcast. At step 503, the centralprocessing computer and/or central processing unit (CPU) 20B can processthe information pertaining to, and/or regarding, the media content,which can be transmitted as a header file to the show, which can betransmitted throughout the broadcast of the show, and/or which can betransmitted during a portion of the show.

[0117] At step 504, the media-playing device 20 can begin playing theshow. At step 504, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the show can be stored in a memory location or buffer and can bedisplayed on the display device 20D. In the case of information providedin a header file, the central processing computer and/or centralprocessing unit (CPU) 20B can latch or store the information in abuffer, memory device, or storage device and, thereafter, display theinformation on the display device 20D. In the case of information, whichis multiplexed with, mixed with, or transmitted along with, thebroadcast and/or with the video information, the central processingcomputer 20B can continuously process the information, such as atpre-determined time intervals, and latch or store the information in abuffer or memory device for display.

[0118] At step 504, the information is displayed on any one or more ofthe display device 20D, the television screen, the television display ordisplay console, and/or a display device of the television remotecontrol device 20C.

[0119] The displayed information can include any one or more of the nameof the show, the performer(s) in the show, the actor(s) appearing in theshow, the producer(s) or director(s) of the show, the theme of the show,the rating of the show, the synopsis of the story-line of the show andof the transpired events, the start, end and/lapsed time of the show,the price of a video copy of the show, an identification numberpertaining to the show, and/or any other pertinent and/or relevantinformation regarding the show. The information can be displayed on thedisplay device 20D which can be a dedicated display device, fordisplaying the above-described information, and/or can be integratedinto the television display screen, the television control paneldisplay, and/or a display located on the television remote controldevice 20C. The information can also be audibly announced through thetelevision and/or home theatre speakers and/or earphones.

[0120] In this manner, the apparatus 100 can provide the individual whois viewing the show with any of the herein-described informationrelating to the show.

[0121] The displayed information can also include information regardinggoods or services. The information regarding goods or services caninclude marketing information, sales information, promotionalinformation, advertisement information, product information, serviceinformation, and/or any other information for facilitating a sale of arespective good or service and/or for promoting a respective good orservice.

[0122] At step 504, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the show, as well as any information regarding goods or services, can bedisplayed on the display device 20D for the duration of the show or canbe displayed for a portion of the show. At step 505, the informationwill cease to be visually displayed and/or audibly announced upon theconclusion of the show and/or at any other time during the playing ofthe show. Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus 100 will cease, atstep 506, upon the conclusion of the show. The above-described processcan then be repeated for a next show received from the broadcastingsystem 10.

[0123] In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 can beutilized to display information regarding audio information which isbeing played on a media-playing device 20 from a storage medium such asa compact disc (CD), a digital video disc or digital versatile disc(DVD), a record, a tape, an MP3 file storage device, a flash media card,digital memory, computer hard disk, or any other recording and/orstorage medium. In this manner, an individual can obtain informationpertaining to, or regarding, the media content or audio information fromthe storage medium. In this embodiment, the media content or audioinformation can include a song, a selection of music, or any other audioinformation, which can be stored on the storage medium. Informationregarding the media content or audio information can be visuallydisplayed and/or audibly announced by the media-playing device 20 as themedia content device 20 plays the media content or audio information.

[0124]FIG. 6 illustrates another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus 100, in flow diagram form. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, the herein-described information can be encoded into a digitalrecording or digital file and stored in conjunction with the recordingof the respective audio information, song, and/or selection of music.The information can be encoded and stored at the beginning of therespective audio file, such as in a header portion of the audioinformation, and/or the information can be multiplexed with, and/ormixed with, the entire, or at least a portion of the, audio information.In any event, the information can be stored in conjunction with, and/oralong with the media content or audio information, the song, or theselection of music, on the respective storage medium.

[0125] The embodiment of FIG. 6 will be described herein in conjunctionwith providing information regarding a song or a selection of music,which is stored on a storage medium. The information pertaining to,and/or relating to, the song can include, for example, informationregarding the name of the song, the performer(s) of the song, thecomposer(s) of the song, the producer(s) of the song, the album on whichthe song appears, the price of a song single, the price of an album(s)in which the song can be found, an identification number pertaining tothe song, and/or any other pertinent and/or relevant informationregarding the song.

[0126] With reference to FIG. 6, the operation of the apparatus 100commences at step 600. At step 601, the individual can load the storagemedium containing the song or selection of music, which storage mediumcan be any one or more of a compact disc (CD), a DVD, a record, a tape,an MP3 file storage medium, a laser disc, a, flash PC card (PCMCIA), aflash media card, a digital memry device, a floppy disk, a hard disk, orany other suitable storage device or medium, into the media-playingdevice 20 and/or into the reading device of the media-playing device 20.The media-playing device 20 can be any one or more of a compact disc(CD) player, a DVD player, a record player, a tape player, an MP3player, a laser disc player, a computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a cellular phone, a watch, a wireless device, a multimediadevice, or any other suitable device.

[0127] At step 601, the individual can also select the song or selectionof music to be played on the media-playing device 20. At step 602, themedia-playing device 20 can begin playing the song or selection ofmusic. At step 602, the central processing computer and/or centralprocessing unit (CPU) 20B can also process the information pertainingto, and/or regarding, the song or selection of music, which can bestored as header information, which can be encoded throughout the song,and/or which can be encoded for a portion of the song.

[0128] At step 602, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the song or selection of music can be stored in a memory location orbuffer.

[0129] At step 603, the information is visually displayed on any one ormore of the display device 20D, the radio display console, and/or adisplay device on the remote control device 20C and/or audibly announcedthrough the speaker(s) normally associated with the media-playing device20 and/or earphones connected thereto. In the case of informationprovided in a header, the central processing computer and or centralprocessing unit (CPU) 20B can latch or store the information in a bufferor memory device. In the case of information which is multiplexed with,and/or mixed with, the recorded audio information, the centralprocessing computer and or central processing unit (CPU) 20B cancontinuously process the information, such as at pre-determined timeintervals, and latch or store the information in a buffer or memorydevice for visual display and/or audible announcement.

[0130] The displayed information can include any one or more of the,name of the song, the performer(s) of the song, the composer(s) of thesong, the producer(s) of the song, the album on which the song appears,the price of a song single, the price of an album(s) in which the songcan be found, an identification number pertaining to the song, and/orany other pertinent and/or relevant information regarding the song. Theinformation can be visually displayed on the display device 20D, whichcan be a dedicated display device, for displaying the above-describedinformation, and/or can be integrated into the media-playing device 20and/or the remote control device 20C of same. The information can alsobe audibly announced through the native speaker(s) of the device 20and/or the earphones connected thereto.

[0131] In this manner, the apparatus 100 can provide the individual whois listening to the song or selection of music with any of theherein-described information relating to the song or selection of music.

[0132] The displayed information can also include information regardinggoods or services. The information regarding goods or services caninclude marketing information, sales information, promotionalinformation, advertisement information, product information, serviceinformation, good's retail price, good's manufacturer suggested price,purchase price of good or service, discount of good or service, cost ofshipping and handling, material of a good, color of a good, size of agood, specifications of a good, details of service and/or any otherinformation for facilitating a sale of a respective good or serviceand/or for promoting a respective good or service.

[0133] At step 603, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the song or selection of music, as well as any information regardinggoods or services, can be visually displayed on the display device 20Dfor the duration of the song or selection of music or can be visuallydisplayed or audibly announced for a portion of the song or selection ofmusic. Thereafter, the operation of the apparatus 100 will cease, atstep 604, upon the conclusion of the song. The above-described processcan then be repeated for a next song, which is played on themedia-playing device 20.

[0134] In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 can beutilized to display information regarding video information, which isbeing played on a media-playing device 20 from a storage medium such asa compact disc (CD), a digital video disc or digital versatile disc(DVD), a laser disc, a record, a tape, a video cassette, a flash mediacard, a flash PC card, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an audio file, avideo file, or any other recording and/or storage medium. In thismanner, an individual can obtain information pertaining to, orregarding, the media content or video information from the storagemedium. In this embodiment, the video information can include a movie, ashow, a performance, or any other video information, which can be storedon the storage medium. In this manner, information regarding therespective video information can be visually displayed and/or audiblyannounced by the media-playing device 20 as the device plays therespective video information.

[0135]FIG. 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment method forutilizing the apparatus 100, in flow diagram form. In the embodiment ofFIG. 7, the herein-described information can be encoded into a digitalrecording or digital file and stored in conjunction with the recordingof the respective video information, movie, show, performance, or anyother video information. The information can be encoded and stored atthe beginning of the respective video file, such as in a header portionof the video information, the information can be multiplexed with,and/or mixed with, the entire, or at least a portion of the, videoinformation and/or encoded in the carrier signal or the portion thereof.In any event, the information can be stored in conjunction with, and/oralong with the video information, movie, show, performance, or any othervideo information.

[0136] The embodiment of FIG. 7 will be described herein in conjunctionwith providing information regarding a movie, which is stored on astorage medium. The information pertaining to, or regarding, the moviecan include the name of the movie, the performer(s) in the movie, theactor(s) appearing in the movie, the producer(s) or director(s) of themovie, the theme of the movie, the ratings of the movie, warnings ofpossibly objectionable content, parental guidance warnings, the synopsisof the movie's story-line and/or transpired events, the start time, theend time, the lapsed time expressed in absolute units of time and/or asa percentage of the movie duration, the price of a video copy of themovie, an identification number pertaining to the movie, and/or anyother pertinent, and/or relevant, information regarding the movie.

[0137] With reference to FIG. 7, the operation of the apparatus 100commences at step 700. At step 701, the individual can load the storagemedium containing the movie, which storage medium can be any one or moreof a video cassette tape, a compact disc (CD), a DVD, a laser disc, aflash PC card, a flash media card, a floppy disk a portable hard disk, avideo file, or any other suitable storage device or medium, into themedia-playing device 20 and/or into a reading device of themedia-playing device 20. The media-playing device 20 can be a televisionand/or any one or more of a video cassette player, a video cassetterecorder (VCR), a compact disc (CD) player, a DVD player, a laser discplayer, a personal video recorder, a computer, a network terminal, anInternet appliance, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellularphone, a watch, a wireless device, a multimedia device, and/or any otherdevice for playing video information.

[0138] At step 701, the individual can also select the movie, which isto be played, if more than one are available on the storage medium. Atstep 702, the media-playing device 20 can begin playing the movie. Atstep 702, the central processing computer and or central processing unit(CPU) 20B can process the information pertaining to, and/or regarding,the movie, which can be stored as header information, which can beencoded throughout the movie, and/or which can be encoded for a portionof the movie and/or which can be encoded in the carrier signal or theportion thereof.

[0139] At step 702, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the movie can be stored in a memory location or buffer.

[0140] At step 703, the information is visually displayed on any one ormore of the display device 20D, the television display screen or displayconsole, and/or a display device on the television remote control device20C, and/or audibly announced through the native speaker(s) normallyassociated with the device 20, external speakers, home theatre, and/orearphones connected thereto. In the case of information provided in aheader, the central processing computer and or central processing unit(CPU) 20B can latch or store the information in a buffer or memorydevice. In the case of information which is multiplexed with, and/ormixed with, the recorded video information, the central processingcomputer and or central processing unit (CPU) 20B can continuouslyprocess the information, such as at pre-determined time intervals, andlatch or store the information in a buffer or memory device for visualdisplay and/or audible announcement.

[0141] The displayed information can include any one or more of the nameof the movie, the performer(s) in the movie, the actor(s) appearing inthe movie, the producer(s) or director(s) of the movie, the theme of themovie, the ratings of the movie, warnings of possibly objectionablecontent, parental guidance warnings, the synopsis of the movie'sstory-line and/or transpired events, the start time, the end time, thelapsed time expressed in absolute units of time and/or as a percentageof the movie duration, the price of a video copy of the movie, anidentification number pertaining to the movie, and/or any otherpertinent, and/or relevant, information regarding the movie.

[0142] In this manner, the apparatus 100 can provide the individual whois viewing the movie with any of the herein-described informationrelating to the movie.

[0143] The displayed information can also include information regardinggoods or services. The information regarding goods or services caninclude marketing information, sales information, promotionalinformation, advertisement information, product information, serviceinformation, good's retail price, good's manufacturer suggested price,purchase price of good or service, discount of good or service, cost ofshipping and handling, materialof a good, color of a good, size of agood, specifications of a good, details of service, and/or any otherinformation for facilitating a sale of a respective good or serviceand/or for promoting a respective good or service.

[0144] At step 703, the information pertaining to, and/or relating to,the movie, as well as any information regarding goods or services, canbe visually displayed on the display device 20D for the duration of themovie or can be visually displayed and/or audibly announced for aportion of the movie and/or at the viewer's requested. Thereafter, theoperation of the apparatus 100 will cease, at step 704, upon theconclusion of the movie. The above-described process can then berepeated for a next movie, which is played on the media-playing device20.

[0145] In view of the above, the present invention provides an apparatusand method, which can provide, visually display and/or audibly announceinformation regarding media content, which is being played at, or by, amedia-playing device. In this manner, an individual listener or viewercan be provided with any of the herein-described information regarding,and/or relating to, the media content.

[0146] While the present invention has been described and illustrated invarious preferred and alternate embodiments, such descriptions aremerely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construedto be limitations thereof. In this regard, the present inventionencompasses all modifications, variations, and/or alternate embodiments,with the scope of the present invention being limited only by theclaims, which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for providing information inconjunction with media content, comprising: a) a memory device, whereinsaid memory device stores media content, wherein said media contentincludes at least one of broadcast media content and entertainment mediacontent, and further wherein said memory device stores informationregarding said media content; b) a processor, wherein said processorprovides said information regarding said media content in conjunctionwith at least one of a broadcast of said media content and atransmission of said media content; and c) a transmitter, wherein saidtransmitter at least one of transmits said media content and broadcastssaid media content and said information regarding said media content toa media-playing device associated with a user.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, wherein said at least one of broadcast media content andentertainment media content is at least one of a radio broadcast, asong, a radio program, a television broadcast, a television show, atelevision program, a movie, a news broadcast, a talk radio show, a talktelevision show, an audio program and a video program.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said information regarding said media contentincludes descriptive information regarding said media content.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent is at least one of a name of a song, a name of an album on whichthe song is featured, an at least one of an artist and a performerperforming the song, a producer of the song, a composer of the song, atheme of the song, a theme of the song's lyrics, the year the song wasproduced, a price of a single recording, a price of an album containingthe song, a name of a music, a name of an album on which the music isfeatured, a composer of the music, a conductor of the music, a performerof the music, a genre of the music, the year the music was performed, aprice of a single recording, a price of an album containing the music, aname of a television at least one of show, program, and movie, an actorfeatured in the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at leastone of a producer and a director of the at least one of show, program,and movie, an at least one of a writer and a composer of the at leastone of show, program, and movie, a theme of the at least one show,program, and movie, a rating of the at least one show, program, andmovie, the year the at least one of show, program, and movie wasproduced, a synopsis of a story-line of the at least one show, program,and movie, a synopsis of transpired events of the at least one show,program, and movie, a start time of the at least one show, program, andmovie, an end time of the at least one show, program, and movie, alapsed time of the at least one show, program, and movie, the price of arecording of the at least one of show, program, and movie, news story atleast one of name, title, description, and at least one of place andtime of occurrence, talk show subject matter, and talk showparticipants.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said informationregarding said media content includes at least one of price informationregarding said media content and price information for a single copy ofsaid media content.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidinformation regarding said media content includes a uniqueidentification number which is associated with said media content. 7.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent includes information regarding at least one of a good and aservice, wherein said information regarding at least one of a good and aservice is provided to a user during a playing of said media content. 8.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes at least oneof broadcasting equipment, radio broadcasting equipment, televisionbroadcasting equipment, media broadcasting equipment, Internetwebcasting equipment, a broadcast transmitter, a radio transmitter, atelevision transmitter, an Internet server and a media broadcastingtransmitter.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said media playingdevice is at least one of a radio, a television, a personal computer, acompact disc player, a video disc player, a laser disc player, a videocassette player, a tape player, a radio receiver, a mobile radio, atelevision receiver, a mobile television, a personal digital assistant,an Internet appliance, a cellular telephone, a watch, a wirelessmedia-playing device, and an MP3 player.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said apparatus is utilized at least one of on, over, and inconjunction with, at least one of a communication network, a radiofrequency (RF) communication network, a cable radio communicationnetwork, a satellite radio communication network, a televisioncommunication network, a cable television communication network, asatellite television communication network, a telecommunication network,a cellular telecommunication network, an optical telecommunicationnetwork, a closed-circuit communication network, a wide area network, alocal area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, the WorldWide Web, a wireless communication network, a wireless Internetcommunication network, and a wireless World Wide Web communicationnetwork.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said informationregarding said media content is at least one of transmitted as a headerfile, encoded into at least a portion of the at least one of said mediacontent and a broadcast signal, co-broadcast in a portion of a signalbandwidth, transmitted during at least a portion of said media contenttransmission, and at least one of multiplexed with and mixed with atleast one of the entirety of said media content and at least a portionof said media content.
 12. A method for providing information inconjunction with media content, comprising: a) storing media content,wherein said media content includes at least one of broadcast mediacontent and entertainment media content; b) storing informationregarding said media content; c) providing said information regardingsaid media content in conjunction with at least one of a broadcast ofsaid media content and a transmission of said media content; and d) atleast one of transmitting said media content and broadcasting said mediacontent and said information regarding said media content to amedia-playing device associated with a user.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein said at least one of broadcast media content and entertainmentmedia content is at least one of a radio broadcast, a song, a music, aradio program, a television broadcast, a webcast, a television show, atelevision program, a movie, a news broadcast, a talk radio show, a talktelevision show, an audio program and a video program.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein said information regarding said media content includesdescriptive information regarding said media content.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, wherein said information regarding said media content is atleast one of a name of a song, a name of an album on which the song isfeatured, an at least one of an artist and a performer performing thesong, a producer of the song, a composer of the song, a theme of thesong, a theme of the song's lyrics, the year the song was produced, aprice of a single recording, a price of an album containing the song, acomposer of a music, a performer of the music, a conductor of the music,the year the music was composed, the year the music was performed, aname of a television at least one of show, program, and movie, an actorfeatured in the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at leastone of a producer and a director of the at least one of show, program,and movie, an at least one of a writer and a composer of the at leastone of show, program, and movie, a theme of the at least one show,program, and movie, a rating of the at least one show, program, andmovie, a warning regarding the content of the at least one show,program, and movie, the year the at least one of show, program, andmovie was produced, a synopsis of the at least one show, program, andmovie, the at least on of the start time, the end time, the lapsed time,and the duration of the at least one show, program, and movie, the priceof a recording of the at least one of show, program, and movie, newsstory at least one of name, title, description, and at least one ofplace and time of occurrence, talk show subject matter, and talk showparticipants.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein said informationregarding said media content includes at least one of price informationregarding said media content, price information regarding copying saidmedia content, price information regarding rental of said media content,price information regarding single replay of said media content, priceinformation regarding multiple replay of said media content, and priceinformation for a single copy of said media content.
 17. The method ofclaim 12, wherein said information regarding said media content includesa unique identification number which is associated with the mediacontent.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein said information regardingsaid media content includes information regarding at least one of a goodand a service, wherein said information regarding at least one of a goodand a service is provided to a user during a playing of said mediacontent.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the media playing device isat least one of a radio, a television, a personal computer, a compactdisc (CD) player, a video disc (DVD) player, a laser disc player, avideo cassette player, a tape player, a record player, a radio receiver,a mobile radio, a television receiver, a mobile television, a computermonitor, a display terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), anInternet appliance, a cellular telephone, a watch, a media device, awireless media device, and an MP3 player.
 20. The method of claim 12,wherein said method is performed at least one of on, over, and inconjunction with, at least one of a communication network, a radiofrequency (RF) communication network, a television communicationnetwork, a cable television communication network, a satellitecommunication network, a telecommunication network, a cellulartelecommunication network, a closed-circuit communication network, theInternet, the World Wide Web, a wide-area network (WAN), a local areanetwork (LAN), a wireless communication network, a wireless Internetcommunication network, and a wireless World Wide Web communicationnetwork.
 21. The method of claim 12, further comprising: at least one oftransmitting said information regarding said media content as a headerfile, encoding said information regarding said media content into atleast a portion of the at least one of said media content and abroadcast signal, co-broadcasting said information regarding said mediacontent in a portion of the signal bandwidth, transmitting saidinformation regarding said media content during at least a portion ofthe media content transmission, and at least one of multiplexing andmixing said information regarding said media content with at least oneof the entirety of said media content and at least a portion of saidmedia content.
 22. An apparatus for providing information in conjunctionwith media content, comprising: a) a receiver, wherein said receiverreceives at least one of a transmission of media content and a broadcastof media content, wherein said media content includes at least one ofbroadcast media content and entertainment media content, and furtherwherein said receiver receives information regarding said media content;b) a processor for processing at least one of said media content andsaid information regarding said media content; and c) a display devicefor displaying said information regarding said media content.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 22, further comprising: media-playing deviceequipment, wherein said media-playing device provides said media contentto a user.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said media-playingdevice displays said information regarding said media content.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 22, wherein said at least one of broadcast mediacontent and entertainment media content is at least one of a radiobroadcast, a song, a music, a radio program, a television broadcast, atelevision show, a television program, a movie, a news broadcast, a talkradio show, a talk television show, an audio program, a video program,and a webcast.
 26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said informationregarding said media content includes descriptive information regardingsaid media content.
 27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein saidinformation regarding said media content is at least one of a name of asong, a name of an album on which the song is featured, an at least oneof an artist and a performer performing the song, a producer of thesong, a composer of the song, a theme of the song, a theme of the song'slyrics, the year the song was produced, a price of a single recording, aprice of an album containing the song, a name of a television at leastone of show, program, and movie, an actor featured in the at least oneof show, program, and movie, an at least one of a producer and adirector of the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at leastone of a writer and a composer of the at least one of show, program, andmovie, a theme of the at least one show, program, and movie, an at leastone of a rating and a content warning of the at least one of show,program, and movie, the year the at least one of show, program, andmovie was produced, an at least one of a start time, an end time, and alapsed time of the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at leastone of a plot synopsis and a synopsis of transpired events of the atleast one of show, program, and movie, the price of a recording of theat least one of show, program, and movie, news story at least one ofname, title, description, and at least one of place and time ofoccurrence, talk show subject matter, and talk show participants. 28.The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent includes at least one of price information regarding said mediacontent, price information regarding copying said media content, priceinformation regarding renting said media content, and price informationfor a single copy of said media content.
 29. The apparatus of claim 22,wherein said information regarding said media content includes a uniqueidentification number, which is associated with the media content. 30.The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent includes information regarding at least one of a good and aservice, wherein said information regarding at least one of a good and aservice is provided to a user simultaneously with a playing of saidmedia content.
 31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said media-playingdevice is at least one of a radio, a television, a personal computer, acomputer monitor, a display terminal, a multimedia goggles, a compactdisc (CD) player, a video disc (DVD) player, a laser disc player, apersonal video recorder, a video cassette player, a tape player, arecord player, a radio receiver, a mobile radio, a television receiver,a mobile television, an Internet appliance, a cellular telephone, awatch, a media device, a wireless media device, and an MP3 player. 32.The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said apparatus is utilized at leastone of on, over, and in conjunction with, at least one of acommunication network, a radio frequency (RF) communication network,television communication network, a cable television communicationnetwork, a satellite communication network, a satellite radiocommunication network a satellite television communication network, atelecommunication network, an optical communication network, aclosed-circuit communication network, a radio telecommunication network,a cellular telecommunication network, a satellite telecommunicationnetwork, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), theInternet, an intranet, an extranet, the World Wide Web, a wirelesscommunication network, a wireless Internet communication network, and awireless World Wide Web communication network.
 33. The apparatus ofclaim 22, wherein said information regarding said media content is atleast one of transmitted as a header file, encoded into at least aportion of the at least one of said media content and a broadcastsignal, co-broadcast in a portion of a signal bandwidth, transmittedduring at least a portion of said media content transmission, and atleast one of multiplexed with and mixed with at least one of theentirety of said media content and at least a portion of said mediacontent.
 34. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: an inputdevice for inputting at least one of information and a command into saidapparatus.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said input device is aremote control device.
 36. The apparatus of claim 22, furthercomprising: a second display device for visually displaying videoinformation contained in said media content.
 37. The apparatus of claim36, wherein said display device is at least one of integrated withmedia-playing device equipment, integrated with said second displaydevice, and integrated with a remote control device.
 38. The apparatusof claim 22, wherein said apparatus is utilized in conjunction with atleast one of a webcast, an Internet transmission, an MP3 transmission, adigital transmission, a pocket-data transmission, an analogtransmission, a radio frequency transmission, an optical transmission,and a satellite transmission.
 39. The apparatus of claim 22, whereinsaid information regarding said media content is at least one of storedin at least one of a memory storage device and a buffer, and displayedon said display device.
 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein saidinformation regarding said media content is at least one of stored in atleast one of a memory storage device and a buffer, and displayed on saiddisplay device, during at least one of a portion of a playing of saidmedia content and for the entirety of a playing of said media content.41. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processor processes saidinformation regarding said media content at least one of continuouslyand at pre-determined time intervals.
 42. A method for providinginformation in conjunction with media content, comprising: a) receivingat least one of a transmission of media content and a broadcast of mediacontent, wherein said media content includes at least one of broadcastmedia content and entertainment media content; b) receiving informationregarding said media content; c) processing at least one of said mediacontent and said information regarding said media content; and d)displaying said information regarding said media content.
 43. The methodof claim 42, further comprising: providing said media content to a user.44. The method of claim 42, wherein said at least one of broadcast mediacontent and entertainment media content is at least one of a radiobroadcast, a song, a music, a radio program, a television broadcast, atelevision show, a television program, a movie, a news broadcast, a talkradio show, a talk television show, an audio program, a video program,and a webcast.
 45. The method of claim 42, wherein said informationregarding said media content includes descriptive information regardingsaid media content.
 46. The method of claim 42, wherein said informationregarding said media content is at least one of a name of a song, a nameof an album on which the song is featured, an at least one of an artistand a performer performing the song, a producer of the song, a composerof the song, a theme of the song, a theme of the song's lyrics, the yearthe song was produced, a price of a single recording, a price of analbum containing the song, a name of a television at least one of show,program, and movie, an actor featured in the at least one of show,program, and movie, an at least one of a producer and a director of theat least one of show, program, and movie, an at least one of a writerand a composer of the at least one of show, program, and movie, a themeof the at least one show, program, and movie, an at least one of arating and a content warning of the at least one of show, program, andmovie, the year the at least one of show, program, and movie wasproduced, an at least one of a start time, an end time, and a lapsedtime of the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at least one ofa plot synopsis and a synopsis of transpired events of the at least oneof show; program, and movie, the price of a recording of the at leastone of show, program, and movie, news story at least one of name, title,description, and at least one of place and time of occurrence, talk showsubject matter, and talk show participants.
 47. The method of claim 42,wherein said information regarding said media content includes at leastone of a price information regarding said media content, a priceinformation regarding copying said media content, a price informationregarding renting said media content and price information for a singlecopy of said media content.
 48. The method of claim 42, wherein saidinformation regarding said media content includes a uniqueidentification number which is associated with said media content. 49.The method of claim 42, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent includes information regarding at least one of a good and aservice, wherein said information regarding at least one of a good and aservice is provided to a user simultaneously with a playing of saidmedia content.
 50. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said media-playingdevice is at least one of a radio, a television, a personal computer, acomputer monitor, a display terminal, a compact disc (CD) player, avideo disc (DVD) player, a laser disc player, a video cassette player, apersonal video recorder, tape player, a record player, a movieprojector, a video projector, a radio receiver, a radio tuner, a mobileradio, a television receiver, a mobile television, an Internetappliance, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia goggles, acellular telephone, a watch, a media device, a wireless media device,and an MP3 player.
 51. The method of claim 42, wherein said method isperformed at least one of on, over, and in conjunction with, at leastone of a communication network, a radio frequency (RF) communicationnetwork, a cable television communication network, a telecommunicationnetwork, a cellular communication network, a satellite communicationnetwork, an optical communication network, a closed-circuitcommunication network, the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wide areanetwork (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless communicationnetwork, a wireless Internet communication network, and a wireless WorldWide Web communication network.
 52. The method of claim 42, furthercomprising: a) at least one of transmitting said information regardingsaid media content as a header file, encoding said information regardingsaid media content into at least a portion of the at least one of saidmedia content and a broadcast signal, co-broadcasting said informationb) regarding said media content in a portion of the signal bandwidth,transmitting said information regarding said media content during atleast a portion of the media content transmission, and at least one ofmultiplexing and mixing said information regarding said media contentwith at least one of the entirety of said media content and at least aportion of said media content.
 53. The method of claim 42, furthercomprising: inputting at least one of information and a command into atleast one of a media-playing device and a remote control device.
 54. Themethod of claim 53, wherein said input device is a remote controldevice.
 55. The method of claim 42, further comprising: displaying videoinformation contained in said media content.
 56. The method of claim 42,wherein said method is performed in conjunction with at least one of anInternet transmission, webcast, an MP3 transmission, a pocket-datatransmission, a digital transmission, an analog transmission, a radiofrequency transmission, an optical transmission, and a satellitetransmission.
 57. The method of claim 42, further comprising: at leastone of storing said information regarding said media content in at leastone of a memory storage device and a buffer and at the least one ofvisually displaying said information regarding said media content on adisplay device, and audibly announcing said information regarding saidmedia content through a audio device.
 58. The method of claim 57,further comprising: at least one of storing said information regardingsaid media content and displaying said information regarding said mediacontent during at least one of a portion of a playing of said mediacontent and for the entirety of a playing of said media content.
 59. Themethod of claim 42, further comprising: processing said informationregarding said media content at least one of continuously and atpre-determined time intervals.
 60. An apparatus for providinginformation in conjunction with media content, comprising: a) at leastone of a media-playing device and a reading device, wherein said atleast one of a media-playing device and a reading device at least one ofreads and processes media content and information regarding said mediacontent from a storage medium, wherein said media content includes atleast one of recorded broadcast media content and recorded entertainmentmedia content; b) a processor for processing at least one of said mediacontent and said information regarding said media content; and c) adisplay device for displaying said information regarding said mediacontent.
 61. The apparatus of claim 60, further comprising:media-playing device equipment, wherein said media-playing deviceequipment provides said media content to a user.
 62. The apparatus ofclaim 60, wherein said media-playing device equipment displays saidinformation regarding said media content.
 63. The apparatus of claim 60,wherein said information regarding said media content includesdescriptive information regarding said media content.
 64. The apparatusof claim 60, wherein said information regarding said media content is atleast one of a name of a song, a name of an album on which the song isfeatured, an at least one of an artist and a performer performing thesong, a producer of the song, a composer of the song, a theme of thesong, a theme of the song's lyrics, the year the song was produced, aprice of a single recording, a price of an album containing the song, aname of a television at least one of show, program, and movie, an actorfeatured in the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at leastone of a producer and a director of the at least one of show, program,and movie, an at least one of a writer and a composer of the at leastone of show, program, and movie, a theme of the at least one show,program, and movie, the year the at least one of show, program, andmovie was produced, the price of a recording of the at least one ofshow, program, and movie, news story at least one of name, title,description, and at least one of place and time of occurrence, talk showsubject matter, and talk show participants.
 65. The apparatus of claim60, wherein said information regarding said media content includes atleast one of price information regarding said media content and priceinformation for a single copy of said media content.
 66. The apparatusof claim 60, wherein said information regarding said media contentincludes a unique identification number which is associated with saidmedia content.
 67. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein said informationregarding said media content includes information regarding at least oneof a good and a service, wherein said information regarding at least oneof a good and a service is provided to a user during a playing of saidmedia content.
 68. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein said media-playingdevice is at least one of a radio, a television, a personal computer, acompact disc player, a video disc player, a laser disc player, a videocassette player, a tape player, a radio receiver, a mobile radio, atelevision receiver, a mobile television, and an MP3 player.
 69. Theapparatus of claim 60, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent is at least one of stored as a header file, encoded into atleast a portion of said media content, and at least one of multiplexedwith and mixed with at least one of the entirety of said media contentand a portion of said media content.
 70. The apparatus of claim 60,further comprising: an input device for inputting at least one ofinformation and a command into said apparatus.
 71. The apparatus ofclaim 70, wherein said input device is a remote control device.
 72. Theapparatus of claim 60, further comprising: a second display device fordisplaying video information contained in said media content.
 73. Theapparatus of claim 72, wherein said display device is at least one ofintegrated with media-playing device equipment, integrated with saidsecond display device, and integrated with a remote control device. 74.The apparatus of claim 60, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent is at least one of stored in at least one of a memory storagedevice and a buffer, and displayed on said display device.
 75. Theapparatus of claim 74, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent is at least one of stored in at least one of a memory storagedevice and a buffer, and displayed on said display device, during atleast one of a portion of a playing of said media content and for theentirety of a playing of said media content.
 76. The apparatus of claim60, wherein said processor processes said information regarding saidmedia content at least one of continuously and at pre-determined timeintervals.
 77. A method for providing information in conjunction withmedia content, comprising: a) at least one of reading and processingmedia content and information regarding said media content from astorage medium, wherein said media content includes at least one ofrecorded broadcast media content and recorded entertainment mediacontent; b) processing at least one of said media content and saidinformation regarding said media content; and c) displaying saidinformation regarding said media content.
 78. The method of claim 77,further comprising: providing said media content to a user.
 79. Themethod of claim 78, further comprising: displaying said informationregarding said media content.
 80. The method of claim 78, wherein saidinformation regarding said media content includes descriptiveinformation regarding said media content.
 81. The method of claim 78,wherein said information regarding said media content is at least one ofa name of a song, a name of an album on which the song is featured, anat least one of an artist and a performer performing the song, aproducer of the song, a composer of the song, a theme of the song, atheme of the song's lyrics, the year the song was produced, a price of asingle recording, a price of an album containing the song, a name of atelevision at least one of show, program, and movie, an actor featuredin the at least one of show, program, and movie, an at least one of aproducer and a director of the at least one of show, program, and movie,an at least one of a writer and a composer of the at least one of show,program, and movie, a theme of the at least one show, program, andmovie, the year the at least one of show, program, and movie wasproduced, the price of a recording of the at least one of show, program,and movie, news story at least one of name, title, description, and atleast one of place and time of occurrence, talk show subject matter, andtalk show participants.
 82. The method of claim 78, wherein saidinformation regarding said media content includes at least one of priceinformation regarding said media content and price information for asingle copy of said media content.
 83. The method of claim 78, whereinsaid information regarding said media content includes a uniqueidentification number which is associated with said media content. 84.The method of claim 78, wherein said information regarding said mediacontent includes information regarding at least one of a good and aservice, wherein said information regarding at least one of a good and aservice is provided to a user during a playing of said media content.85. The method of claim 78, wherein said media-playing device is atleast one of a radio, a television, a personal computer, a compact discplayer, a video disc player, a laser disc player, a video cassetteplayer, a tape player, a radio receiver, a mobile radio, a televisionreceiver, a mobile television, and an MP3 player.
 86. The method ofclaim 78, wherein said information regarding said media content is atleast one of stored as a header file, encoded into at least a portion ofsaid media content, and at least one of multiplexed with and mixed withat least one of the entirety of said media content and a portion of saidmedia content.
 87. The method of claim 78, further comprising: inputtingat least one of information and a command into an input device.
 88. Themethod of claim 78, wherein the input device is a remote control device.89. The method of claim 78, further comprising: displaying videoinformation contained in said media content.
 90. The method of claim 78,further comprising: at least one of storing said information regardingsaid media content in at least one of a memory storage device and abuffer, and displaying said information regarding said media content ona display device.
 91. The method of claim 90, further comprising: atleast one of storing said information regarding said media content in atleast one of a memory storage device and a buffer, and displaying saidinformation regarding said media content on a display device, during atleast one of a portion of a playing of said media content and for theentirety of a playing of said media content.
 92. The method of claim 78,further comprising: processing said information regarding said mediacontent at least one of continuously and at pre-determined timeintervals.
 93. An apparatus for providing media content in conjunctionwith information regarding said media content, comprising: a) a memorydevice, wherein said memory device stores media content, and furtherwherein said memory device stores information regarding said mediacontent; b) a transmitter, wherein said transmitter transmits said mediacontent and said information regarding said media content to amedia-playing device associated with a user.
 94. An apparatus forreceiving media content in conjunction with information regarding saidmedia content, comprising: c) a receiver, wherein said receiver receivesmedia content and information regarding said media content; and d) amemory device, wherein said memory device stores said media content, andfurther wherein said memory device stores said information regardingsaid media content.
 95. A method for providing information inconjunction with media content, comprising: a) transmitting mediacontent; and b) transmitting information regarding said media content.96. A method for receiving information in conjunction with mediacontent, comprising: a) receiving media content; and b) receivinginformation regarding said media content.
 97. A method for providinginformation in conjunction with media content, comprising: a) storingmedia content; b) storing information regarding said media content; c)providing said information regarding said media content in conjunctionwith a transmission of said media content; and d) transmitting saidmedia content media content and said information regarding said mediacontent to a media-playing device associated with a user.
 98. A methodfor receiving information in conjunction with media content, comprising:a) receiving media content and information regarding said media contentby a media-playing device associated with a user; b) storing said mediacontent; c) storing said information regarding said media content; andd) providing said information regarding said media content to said userin conjunction with a replay of said media content.
 99. A method forextracting information about media content, comprising the steps of: a)designating memory buffer for storing desired information regardingmedia content; b) scanning said media content for said desiredinformation regarding said media content; c) storing said desiredinformation regarding said media content in said memory buffer; and d)repeating the steps of b) and c).
 100. A method of claim 99 wherein saidmedia content is a radio broadcast.
 101. A method of claim 99 whereinsaid media content is a television broadcast.
 102. A method of claim 99wherein said media content is an Internet webcast.
 103. An apparatus forproviding information in conjunction with media content, comprising: d)a receiver, wherein said receiver receives a transmission of mediacontent, and further wherein said receiver receives informationregarding said media content; e) a display device for visuallydisplaying said information regarding said media content.
 104. Anapparatus of claim 103 further comprising of a processor for processingat least one of said media content and said information regarding saidmedia content.
 105. An apparatus of claim 103 further comprising of amemory device for storing at least one of said media content and saidinformation regarding said media content.
 106. An apparatus forproviding information in conjunction with media content, comprising: a)a receiver, wherein said receiver receives a transmission of mediacontent, and further wherein said receiver receives informationregarding said media content; b) a processor for processing at least oneof said media content and said information regarding said media content;and c) an audio device for audibly announcing said information regardingsaid media content.
 107. An apparatus of claim 106 further comprising ofa processor for processing at least one of said media content and saidinformation regarding said media content.
 108. An apparatus of claim 106further comprising of a memory device for storing at least one of saidmedia content and said information regarding said media content.
 109. Anapparatus of claim 106 wherein said audio device is a at least onespeaker connected with said receiver.
 110. An apparatus of claim 106wherein said audio device is a at least one earphone connected with saidreceiver.
 111. A method for providing information in conjunction withmedia content, comprising: a) receiving a transmission of media content;b) receiving information regarding said media content; c) providing saidinformation regarding said media content.
 112. A method of claim 111further comprising: processing at least one of said media content andsaid information regarding said media content.
 113. A method of claim111 further comprising: storing in the at least one of a memory deviseand a memory buffer at least one of said media content and saidinformation regarding said media content.
 114. A method of claim 111wherein said providing said information regarding said media contentcomprises visually displaying said information.
 115. A method of claim111 wherein said providing said information regarding said media contentcomprises audibly announcing said information.
 116. The method of claim42, wherein said information regarding said media content includesinformation regarding at least one of a good and a service, wherein saidinformation regarding at least one of a good and a service is providedto a user subsequent to a playing of said media content.
 117. Anapparatus for providing information in conjunction with media content,comprising: d) at least one of a media-playing device and a readingdevice, wherein said at least one of a media-playing device and areading device at least one of reads and processes media content andinformation regarding said media content from a storage medium, whereinsaid media content includes at least one of recorded broadcast mediacontent and recorded entertainment media content; e) a processor forprocessing at least one of said media content and said informationregarding said media content; and f) an audio device for audiblyannouncing said information regarding said media content.